Training with a Pivit Balance Board will help you gain core and leg strength and to improve your coordination and balance. People who enjoy board sports --- from surfing to snowboarding --- often utilize this tool. Other sports enthusiasts also frequently train with balance boards, including runners, swimmers, rugby and football players and even golfers. Physical therapists also utilize balance boards to speed patients' recovery. Boards can be expensive, but it's easy to cut costs by making them at home.
Step 1
Make a template for your board. This should be egg-shaped. You can download templates from a DIY website, such as Instructables.com, or go by the size of the commercial version, which is 31.5 inches long and 8.75 inches wide in the middle. Make sure it is wide enough that you can stand on it with your feet shoulder width apart.
Step 2
Make a template for your stoppers. These should be 4 inches long and the same width and shape as the ends of your board, resembling a half-circle.
Step 3
Cut your board and four stoppers. A jigsaw is the best tool; a hand saw can take a long time.
Step 4
Glue the two stoppers to each end on the bottom of your board. Clamp them and let them dry overnight.
Step 5
On the top of your board, mark three equally spaced spots near the end and above the stoppers on each side. Drill holes where you've marked. Countersink the holes a bit so the bolts don't stick up and snag socks or feet when you are finished. Place your nuts in the holes underneath and screw in your bolts through the top. Below, cut off any excess bolt and file it until it's smooth.
Step 6
Sand all rough edges on the board.
Step 7
If you choose to use a 2-liter soda bottle, you are good to go. If not, cut your segment of drainage pipe to match your board's width with just a little left over. For more stability, you also can fill the middle half with sand and seal the ends with duct tape.
Tips and Warnings
- You can attach a nonskid material to the top of your board, such as the decking made for stand-up surfboards.
- Use a face mask when you cut your MDF board, as you do not want to inhale the MDF fibers. If you use a drainage pipe, make sure it's rigid enough to bear your weight. If you use a 2-liter, be aware that it will not be as durable and is likely to eventually break.
Things You'll Need
- MDF
- Six bolts
- Wood glue
- Soda 2-liter or drainage pipe about the size of a 2-liter
- Drill
- Saw
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Hacksaw
- G-Clamp
- Sandpaper
- Sand
- Duct tape
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